Switch operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

Main and auxiliary contact operating rods are sequentially moved to contact open positions by coil tension springs on the sequential tripping of main and auxiliary toggle latches by a mechanism cam on an operating shaft pivoted in one direction. Continued pivoting of the operating shaft in the same direction effects movement of the rods to the contact closed positions. The toggle latches can be tripped sequentially independently of the mechanism cam. An indicator operated in conjunction with the main contact operating rod provides a visible indication of the position of the operating rod and thereby of the contacts.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 limited States Patent [1 1 Chabala et al.

3,154,656 10/1964 Gussow ct 200/146 R SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Inventors: Leonard V. Chabala, Maywood;

Primary Examiner-Robert S. Macon Att0mey-R0bert R. Lockwood [57] ABSTRACT Main and auxiliary contact operating rods are sequen- [22] Filed: Sept, 18, 1972 tially moved to contact open positions by coil tension [21] Appl. No.: 290,177

springs on the sequential tripping of main and auxiliary toggle latches by a mechanism cam on an operating shaft pivoted in one direction. Continued pivoting 200/146 R, 200/167 of the operating shaft in the same direction effects H013; 33/12 movement of the rods to the contact closed positions. 200/146 R, 167 R [52] US. [51] int.

[58] Field of Sear h The toggle latches can be tripped sequentially independently of the mechanism cam. An indicator oper- References Cited ated in conjunction with the main contact operating UNITED STATES PATENTS rod provides a visible indication of the position of the 2/1963 operating rod and thereby of the contacts. 12/1963 3,077,526 200/146 R 3,116,391 Lindell et 200/146 R 20 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDncrsousn I I 376947? sum o'1nr12 fjiiiim PAIENTEDUBUO I975 7 3769.477

' saw 020? 12 PATENTEDflcf so 1915 sum 03 or 12 PATENTEDnm 30 1975 Sum .06 or 12 PATENIEnnm'ao ma I 3169!" SHEET 07m 12 PATENIEDnm 30 I973 I sum 08 or 12 PAIEmEnnmaoma' 3,789.47.

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PATENTEDUCT '30 1975 3. 769.477

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM This invention constitutes an improvement over the constructions disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,030,481, issued Apr. 17, 1962; 3,163,736, issued Dec. 29, 1964; 3,225,170, issued Dec. 21, 1965; and 3,508,178, issued Apr. 21, 1970. v

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for sequentially opening main and auxiliary contacts in a high voltage switch and for closing them in a new and improved manner; to individually bias the contacts to the open position; to hold the contacts in the closed position by toggle latches individual thereto; to trip sequentially the toggle latches; to trip the toggle latch holding the main contacts closed as a result of pivotal movement of an operating shaft followed by tripping of the toggle latch holding the auxiliary contacts closed by the first-tripped toggle latch; to trip the toggle latch holding the main contacts closed independently of the operating shaft to open the main and auxiliary contacts; to force the opening of the contacts in the event that the biasing forces are incapable of such action; and to provide an indication of whether the contacts are in the open or closed position.

In the drawings:.

FIG. I is a view, in side elevation, of one pole of a three phase high voltage switch construction in which this invention is embodied.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the switch construction shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view, at an enlarged scale partly in side elgenerally evation and partly in section, showing the operating mechanism within the mechanism housing and a portion of the circuit interrupter for the switch construction as shown in the preceding figures.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view at an enlarged scale taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5A is a view similar to FIG. 5 and shows the auxiliary trip'mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and at an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a viewv in side elevation of the support bracket and portions of the main and auxiliary toggle latch means mounted thereon.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the first links of the main and auxiliary toggle latch means.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the main togglelatch means in the latched overcenter position.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but shows the main toggle latch means in the center position.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a portion of the operating mechanism and shows the mechanism cam in engagement with the recocking cam for reclosing the contacts of the circuit interrupter during the continued movement of the operating shaft in the initial direction for opening the switch.

FIG. 13 shows the position of the main rod operating arm in the full contact open position.

FIG. 14 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in section, and shows the cover on which the contact position indicator is mounted.

generally FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the second link of the auxiliary toggle latch means.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the second link of the main toggle latch means.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the trip latch assembly.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be observed that reference character 10 designates, generally, a high voltage switch in which this invention is embodied. The high voltage switch 10 comprises a single pole of a three phase switch assembly that commonly is employed for controlling the three phase high voltage alternating current circuits. The switch 10 comprises a metallic base 11 on which stationary insulators l2 and 13 are mounted near the ends. A rotatable insulator 14 is mounted on the base 11 intermediate the stationary insulators 12 and 13. An operating linkage 15 is arranged to pivot the insulator 14 through an angle of about 105 between the switch closed and the switch open positions. A line terminal 16 is mounted on the upper end of the stationary insulator 12. A circuit interrupter, shown generally at 17, is mounted at one end on the line terminal 16 and at the other end on a metallic mechanism housing that is indicated, generally, at 18 and is located above the upper end of the rotatable insulator 14. The circuit interrupter 17 can be constructed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,736. Pivotably mounted on the housing 18 is a switch blade 19 that is arranged to engage a switch contact that is indicated, generally, at 20 and is mounted on the upper end of the stationary insulator 13. An operating shaft 21 extends upwardly from and pivots with the rotatable insulator 14. The operating shaft 21 is suitably journaled in the metallic mechanism housing 18 and extends therethrough and at its upper end carries a switch crank 22 that can be pivoted through for example, as limited by an upstanding stop 23. An operating linkage, indicated generally at 24, mechanically interconnects the switch crank 22 and the switch blade 19 for pivoting the latter between the switch closed and the switch open positions. The operating linkage 24 can be constructed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,481.

For opening the switch 10 the insulator 14 is pivoted through the angle of 105 referred to above. It will be understood that this extent of pivotable movement can be varied as'may be desired. As a result of initial pivotable movementof the insulator 14, main contacts in the circuit interrupter 17 are opened followed by opening of circuit interrupting contacts where the current flowing in the circuit is effectively interrupted. Subsequently the switch blade 19'is swung to an upright open circuit position. Continued pivotable movement of the operating shaft 21 effects reclosure of the main and auxiliary contacts in the circuit interrupter so that, at the end ofthe opening pivotable movement of the insulator 14, the contacts in the circuit interrupter 17 are closed while the circuit is opened by the switch blade l9 remaining in the vertical open circuit position. On

reverse pivotable movement of the insulator l4 and thereby of the operating shaft 21, the switch blade 19 is swung to the switch closed position and into engagement with the switch contact 20 in the position shown in FIG. 1.

In certain instances it is desirable to effect the opening of the contacts in the circuit interrupter 17 without effecting any movement of the insulator 14. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 3, there is provided an auxil- 3 iary operating mechanism as indicated, generally, at 27. The mechanism 27 is arranged to pivot a rotatable auxiliary insulator 28 together with an auxiliary trip shaft 29 at its upper end. The trip shaft 29 is journaled on a trip shaft support 30 which is carried by the underside of the metallic mechanism housing 18. It extends into a mechanism housing extension 31 for tripping the operating mechanism within the housing 18 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

In describing the mechanism within the housing 18 reference can be had to FIGS. 4, 5, A and 6. The mechanism housing 18 has a top wall 34 and a bottom wall 35 through which the operating-shaft 21 extends from the rotatable insulator 14 to the'switch crank 22. Top and bottom spacers 36 and 37 are located on the operating shaft 21. adjacent the top and bottom walls 34 and 35 respectively. The spacers 36 and. 37 are arranged to locate a hub 38 therebetween which is secured against rotation relative to the shaft 21 by a key 39. Integral with the hub 38 is a mechanism cam 40 that-is provided with radially extending teeth 41 at one distal end. The other distal end 42 of the mechanism cam 40 comprises a recocking extension and has a houlder 43 that is arranged to'engage a shoulder 44 on arecocking cam 45 that is journaled on the lower end of the hub 38.

The circuit interrupter 17, as described in US. Pat. No. 3,163,736, includes main contacts that are arranged to be moved between the closed and openpositions by a main contact operating rod 48. Also the circuit interrupter 17 includes auxiliary circuit interrupting contacts that are arranged to be moved between the closed and open positions by an auxiliary contact operating rod 49. The rods 48 and 49 are arranged to be moved translatorily in a manner to be described.

The'main contact operating rod 48 extends into the mechanism housing 18 and is connected to a rod end ,50 that is pivotably connected at 51 to a distal end 52 of a main rod operating arm 53. The. main rod operating arm-53 is-journaledon an auxiliary shaft 54 which is located in parallel spaced relation to the operating 51 and 67. The links 66 and 69 are located in a position slightly past the center position, for example 3. The main toggle latch means '65 is limited in its movement tothis overcenter toggle latched position by an adjusting screw 70, carried by the first link 66, in engagement with a shoulder 71 on the support bracket 63. In order .to shift the main toggle latch means 65 to the overcenter toggle latched position, there is provided a torsion spring 72 around the pivot axis 67. The torsion spring 72 reacts between the support bracket 63 and the first link 66 and holds the main toggle latch means 65 in the overcenter toggle latched position. In the switch closed position it will be understood that the coil tension spring 60 also biases the main toggle latch means 65 to the overcenter toggle latched position. Thus the 3 overcenter position is established by the adjusting screw 70 while thiscondition is maintained by involved spring forces. A

For tripping the main toggle latch means 65 there is provided a trip latch assembly that is indicated, generally, at 75. It is pivotably mounted on'the pivot 68 between the first and second links 66 and 69. The construction of the trip latch assembly 75 is shown more clearly in FIG. 17. Here it will be observed that a metallic housing 76 is provided having an elongated slot 77 and an adjusting screw 78. A pry-out arm 79 is slidably mounted within the housing 76 and has a circular openshaft 21 and is carried by apertured support arms 55 that extend inwardly from a cover 56. As shownin FIG. l, the cover56 is secured by bolts 57 toone side of the mechanism housing 18. By mounting the auxiliary shaft 54 on the cover 56, it is possible to assemble the auxiliary shaft 54 and parts mounted thereon separately from the mechanism housing 18 and then to insert the assembly in the mechanism housing 18.

For biasing the main contact operating rod 48 to the open position there is provided a coil tension spring 60 which is connected at 61 to the main rod operating arm 53, and is connected at 62 to a support bracket that is indicated, generally, at 63 and is secured by bolts 64 to a wall of the mechanism housing 18. The main rod operating arm 53 and the main contact operating rod 48 connected thereto are held in the contact closed position by main toggle latch means indicated, generally, at 65 and interposed between the distal end 53 of the main rod operating arm 53 and the support bracket 63. The main toggle latch means 65 comprises a first link 66 which is pivoted at 67 on the support bracket 63. At its other end the first link 66 is pivoted at 68 to one end of a second link 69 which is pivoted at 51 on the distal end 52 of the main rod operating arm 53.

The center position of the main toggle latch means 65 is located along a line interconnecting the pivot axes ing therethrough. It will be understood that the pivot axis 68 extends'through the circular opening 80 and that the position of the housing 76 relative to the trip arm 79 can be adjustedby the adjusting screw 78.

Again referring to FIG. 5 there is provided a coil tension spring 81 for biasing the trip latch assembly 75 in a clockwise direction. At one end the coil tension spring 81 is secured to an arm 82 that extends from the housing 76. At its other end the coil tension spring 81 is connected to an arm 83 that extends from the first link 66 adjacent its pivot axis 67. A pry-out finger 84 and a shoulder 85 on the housing 76 are arranged to be engaged by the teeth 4l of the mechanism cam 40 for the purpose of shifting the main toggle latch means 65 from the overcenter toggle latched position and past the center position where the coil tension spring 60 then is released to pivot the main rod operating arm 53 in a clockwise direction for withdrawing the main contact operating rod 48 from'thecontact closed'position. The shoulder 85 is first engaged by a tooth 41 on the mechanism cam 40 to unlatch the toggle latch means 65. Should this be ineffective, another tooth 41 engages the distal end of the'pry-out finger 84. Continued pivotal movement of the mechanism cam 40 then forces further movement of the main toggle latch means 65 past its center position and thereby forces the withdrawal of the main contact operating rod 48 as well as forcing withdrawal of the auxiliary contact operating rod 49 by forced tripping of auxiliary toggle latch means 97 to be described. 7

A number of teeth 41 are provided on the mechanism cam 40 to insure that there will be a tooth for engaging the trip latch assembly 75 should the operating shaft 21 not be fully pivoted to the switch closed position.

It is desirable that provision be made for limiting the pivotable movement of the trip latch assembly when the main toggle latch means 65 has been shifted to the operated position with the main contact operating rod 48 in the contact open position. For this purpose a torsion spring 86 is located around th'e pivot axis 68 and reacts between the trip arm 79 and the second link 69 against the biasing action of the coil tension spring 81. A balance is reached between the forces applied by the springs 81 and 86 to hold the latch trip assembly in proper operative position.

The manner in which the auxiliary contact operating rod 49 is moved between the contact closed and contact open positions will be apparent from consideration of FIG. 6. Here a rod end link 90 is loosely pivotably connected at 91 to a distal end 92 of an auxiliary rod operating arm 93, which is pivotably mounted on the auxiliary shaft 54. As shown in FIG. 4 the rod end link 90 is pivotably connected at 91 to the end of the auxiliary contact operating rod 49 that projects into the mechanism housing 18. A coil tension spring 94, similar to the coil tension spring 60, is employed for shifting the auxiliary contact operating rod 49 and the auxiliary rod operating arm 93 to the contact open position. The coil tension spring 94 is connected at 95 to the auxiliary rod operating arm 93 at one end and its other end is connected at 96 to the support bracket 63.

The auxiliary rod operating arm 93 is held in the contact closed position by auxiliary toggle latch means, indicated generally at 97. The auxiliary toggle latch means 97 is similar to the main toggle latch means 65. It comprises a first link 98 that is pivoted at 99 on the support bracket 63. The other end of the first link 98 is pivoted at 100 to one end ofa second link 101 which is pivoted at 91 to the distal end 92 of the auxiliary rod operating arm 93. The auxiliary toggle latch means 97 is located in an overcenter toggle latched position by an adjusting screw 102 that bears against a shoulder 103 on the supportbracket 63. Preferably the auxiliary toggle latch means 97 occupies a position about 3 past the center position. A torsion spring 104, reacting between the first link 98 and the support bracket 63, biases the auxiliary toggle latch means 97 to the overcenter toggle latched position shown in FIG. 6.

It will be recalled that the main toggle latch means 65 is tripped or moved from the overcenter toggle latched position to a released position where the coil tension spring 60 can effect opening of the contacts controlled by'the main contact-operating rod48 by engagement of one of the teeth 41 on the mechanism cam 40 with theshoulder 85 on trip latch assembly 75. It is desirable that the auxiliary interrupting contacts controlled by the auxiliary contact operating rod 49 be opened after the main contacts are opened. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 7A, the first link 66 is provided with an upstanding shoulder 106 that is arranged to engage a radially extending shoulder 107 on the first link 98 of the auxiliary toggle latch means 97. This engagement takes place only after the first link 66 has been pivoted to a position corresponding to a position where the main contacts are opened. This will be apparent from a consideration of FIG. 5. I

It is desirable that the kinetic energy involved in the mechanism employed for moving the main contact operating rod 48 to the open position be transferred, in part, to effect the opening of the auxiliary interrupting contacts by the movement of the auxiliary contact operating rod 49. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 5, the main rod operating arm 53 is provided with diametrically opposite shoulders 108 that face in the same circular direction and are arranged to engage diametrically opposite heads 109 of bolts 110 which extend through resilient bumper sleeves 111 that are located 6 in sockets 112 which are carried by the auxiliary rod operating arm 93. Not only is kinetic energy transferred between the two moving systems but also the shock incident to engagement with the bolt heads 109 is cushioned by the resilient bumper sleeves 111.

As shown in FIG. 5A resilient bumper pads 115 are employed for engagement by end faces 116 and 117 of the distal ends 52 and 92 of the arms 53 and 93 in their full contact open positions.

It will be recalled that pivotable movement of the operating shaft 21 initially effects the sequential opening of the main and auxiliary interrupting contacts by the sequential operation of the main and auxiliary contact operating rods 48 and 49 in the manner described. Continued pivotable movement of the operating shaft 21 not only effects the movement of the switch blade 19 to the upright switch open position but also effects reclosure of the main and auxiliary interrupting contacts by movement of the main and auxiliary contact operating rods 48 and 49 back to the contact closed positions. This is accomplished through the movement of the recocking cam 45 which is initiated when the shoulder 43 on mechanism cam 40 engages the shoulder 44 on the recocking cam 45. This is illustrated in FIG. 12. In FIG. 5 it will be observed that a pair of links 120 is pivotally connected at 121 to a radially extending arm 122 of the recocking cam 45. The other ends of the links 120 are pivotally connected at 123 to the main rod operating arm 53. On continued pivotable movement of the operating shaft 21 in a counterclockwise direction with the shoulder 43 in engagement with the shoulder 44 on the recocking cam 45, the main rod operating arm 53 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the auxiliary shaft 54 to shift the main contact operating rod 48 back to the contact closed position. This is accompanied by restoration of the main toggle latch means 65 to the overcenter toggle locked position as assisted by the torsion spring 72. Shortly after the main rod operating arm 53 starts to pivot to the contact closed position, diametrically opposite shoulders 124 facing in the same circular direction and carried by the main rod operating arm 53 engage diametrically opposite shoulders 125 facing in the opposite circular direction on the auxiliary rod operating arm 93. In this manner the auxiliary rod operating arm 93 is pivoted to the position corresponding to the closed position of the auxiliary interrupting contacts and is accompanied by shifting of the auxiliary contact operating rod 49 to the contact closed position. This relationship, as shown in FIG. 5, is maintained while the contacts in the circuit interrupter 17 remain in the 7 closed position. The auxiliary rod operating arm 93 is held in the position as shown in FIG. 6 by the auxiliary toggle latch means 97 in the overcenter toggle locked position under the influence of the torsion spring 104.

As pointed out it may be desirable to effect the opening of the main and auxiliary interrupting contacts in the circuit interrupter 17 independently of pivotable movement of the rotatable insulator 14. One reason for this is that a substantial amount of time is required to effect the opening of the contacts in the circuit interrupter 17 through the pivoting of the insulator 14 under the control of the operating linkage 15. This is due to the fact that considerable inertia must be overcome before the final circuit interruption can be effected. Accordingly, provision is made for independently tripping the main toggle latch means 65. For this purpose the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. A, 8 and 9 is employed. As there shown and as shown in FIG. 16, the second link 69 has an integral arm 130 that is arranged tobe, engaged by a rod head 131 located at the distal end of a push rod 132. A clevis 133 pivotably mounts the push rod 132 at 134 on adistal end 135 of an actuating arm 136. The actuating arm 136 is secured against rotation by a key 137 to the auxiliary trip shaft 29 which is arranged to be pivoted by the rotatable auxiliary insulator 28' under the control of the auxiliary operating mechanism 27 in a manner that is described in US. Pat. No. 3,508,178.

7 The movement of the push rod 132 is guided by a guide plate 138 having a slot 139 through which'the push rod 132 extends. It will be understood that a necessary force is applied endwise to the push rod 132 to cause the redhead 131 to engage the arm '130 and shift the second link 69 from the overcenter toggle locked position to release the coil tension spring 60 for pivoting the main r'od operating arm 53 in a manner previously described to effect the sequential movement of the main and auxiliary contact operating rods 48 and 49 to the contact open positions.

It is desirable that the push rod 132 occupy the position shown by broken lines in FIG. 5A after the main toggle latch means 65 has been tripped. In this position the rod head 131 is out of the path of the arm 130 on return of the main toggle latch means 65 to theovercenter toggle locked position should the auxiliary operating mechanism 27 fail to return the push rod 132 to the initial position. For this purpose the clevis 133 is provided with an integral arm 140 the distal end 141 of I 138 and finally to the angle 144 when the distal end 141 of the arm engages the stop pin 142. A return torsion spring 145 around the auxiliary trip shaft 29 acts to'bias the actuating arrn 136 back to the initial position.

It is desirable that an indication begiven externally of the switch 10 of the position of the main and auxiliary interrupting contacts in the circuit interrupter17. For this purpose the contact position indicator shown, generally at 149 in FIGS. 5 'and 14, can be employed. The contact position indicator 149 includes a cylindrical window 150 that is secured by a cap 151 to the cover 56. The cap 151 is held in place by a bolt 152 which extends through a support plate 153 that issecured by screws 154 to arms 155 which extend inwardly from the cover 56. Within the cylindrical window 150 is a stationary cup-shaped target 156 the outer surface of which may be'covered with a light reflecting material such as yellow material. When the target 156 is visible through the window 150, the contacts are open.

For obscuring the target 156 from view there is provided a movable sleeve 157 that may have a contrasting color coating. For example, the sleeve 157 can be formed of aluminum. When it occupies the position shown in FIG. 5, the target 156 is obscured and the relative invisibility of the target 157 indicates that the contacts in the circuit interrupter 17 are closed.

The sleeve 157 is controlled by the position of the main rod operating arm 53. For this purpose provision is made for mechanically interconnecting the sleeve 157 and the main rod operating arm 53 so that the former can move through an opening 158 in the cover 56 to a position where it uncovers the yellow target 156. The sleeve 157 cannot be seen when the main rod operating arm 53 occupies a position corresponding to the open positions of the main and auxiliary interrupting contacts. The sleeve 157 has a pair of arms 159, only one of which is visible in the drawings. They are pivotably connected at 160 to the distal end 161 of an indicator lever 162 of the third class. Rivets 163 secure the indicatorlever 162 to a lever pivot arm 164 which is pivotably mounted at 165 on a bracket 166 which is carried by the cover 56. A torsion spring 167 reacts between the bracket 166 and the leverpivot arm 164 to bias the sleeve 157 into the cover 56 through the opening 158 and out of view through the cylindrical window 150. The lever pivot arm 164 is provided with a notch 168 for receiving a detent pin 169 that is carried by arms 170 extending from the main rod operating arm 53. As long as the main rod operating arm 53 remains in the position shown in FIG. 5 the indicator lever 162 is held in the position shown here with the sleeve 157 obscuring the target 156 from view, thereby indicating that the contacts are closed.

When the main rod operating arm 53 pivots to the contact open position, the detent pin 169 is withdrawn from the notch 168 and the torsion spring 167 then shifts the indicator lever 162 and the sleeve 157 to a position which removes the sleeve 157 from view and makes visible the yellow target 156 which indicates that the contacts are open.

In the event that the torsion spring 167 should fail to shift the sleeve 157 in the manner described, this will be accomplished by engagement of the detent pin 169 with one side of the notch 168. This action forces the lever pivot arm 164 and the lever 162 counterclockwise and shifts the sleeve 157 positively through the opening 158 to the nonindicating position where the yellow target 156 can be viewed through the window 150 to indicate that the contacts are open.

' links 101 and 69 to facilitate, shifting of the respective auxiliary and main toggle latch means 97 and 65 to the overcentertoggle locked positions.

- FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate different operating positions of the mechanism within the mechanism housing 18. Initially the operating shaft 21 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow in FIG. 10. The switch crank 22 moves away from the stop 23 and one of the teeth 41 engages the shoulder 85 on the trip latch assembly 75. The main toggle latch means 65 then is shifted from the overcenter position to the position shown in FIG. 11. Continued pivotal movement of the mechanism cam 40 shifts the main toggle latch means 65 past the center position. This allows the coil tension spring 60 to bias the main rod operating arm 53 and thereby the main contact operating rod 48 to the contact open position. As described above this is followed by engagement of the auxiliary rod operating arm 93 and subsequent shifting of the auxiliary contact operating rod 49 to the contact open position.

Continued pivotal movement of the operating shaft 21 in the counterclockwise direction brings the shoulder 43 on the mechanism cam 40 into engagement with the shoulder 44 on the recocking cam 45 as illustrated in FIG. 12. This is followed by return of the main rod operating arm 53 and the auxiliary rod operating arm 93 to the contact closed positions.

FIG. 13 illustrates the position of the main rod operating arm 53 in the contact open position. Here the end face 1 16 at the distal end 52 of the arm 53 engages the bumper pad 1 l'to cushion the arresting of the arm 53 in the contact open position. Subsequently, as described, continued movement of the mechanism cam 40 in the direction indicated by arrow 176 causes the shoulder 43 to engage the shoulder 44 on the recocking cam 45 for restoring the arms 53 and 93 to the contact closed positions. 4

As pointed out above, a pry-out action is effected through the pry-out finger 84 should the spring 60 be ineffective to move the main toggle latch means 65 and the main contact operating rod 48 to the'open position as a result of engagement of one of the teeth 41 on the mechanism cam 40. The continued pivotal movement of the mechanism cam 40 applies an endwise driving force to the pry-out finger 84 which forces the opening movement of the main and subsequently the auxiliary operating rods 48 and 49 to their open positions. A surface 177 on the pry-out finger 84 bears against the outermost edge of the adjacent tooth 41 to prevent clockwise movement of the trip latch assembly 75.

Should the operating shaft 14 not have been pivoted to the fully closed position and then pivoted to the open position, the trip latch assembly 75 will be engaged in the manner described since a number of teeth 41, for example four, are provided on the distal end of the mechanism cam 40.

We claim:

1. Switch means comprising: a circuit interrupter having main and auxiliary contact operating rods for sequentially opening main contacts and auxiliary contacts and for closing said contacts, a mechanism housing into which said operating rods extend, an operating shaft pivoted on said housing, an auxiliary shaft on said housing in parallel spaced relation to said operating shaft, a main rod operating arm pivoted on said auxiliary shaft and connected at its'distal end' to said main contact operating rod, an auxiliary rod operating arm pivoted on said auxiliary shaft and connected at its distal end to said auxiliary contact operating rod, spring means individual to and interconnecting said operating arms and said mechanism housing and biasing said arms and thereby said rods to switch open positions, main toggle latch means interposed between the distal end of said main rod operating arm and said mechanism housing for holding said main contact operating rod in switch closed position, auxiliary toggle latch means interposed between the distal end of said auxiliary rod operating arm and said mechanism housing for holding said auxiliary rod operating arm and thereby said auxiliary contact operating rod in switch closed position, a mechanism cam secured to said operating shaft for tripping said main toggle latch means to release said main rod operating arm to shift said main contact operating rod to switch open position on pivotal movement of said operating shaft in one direction, and driving means between said main toggle latch means and said auxiliary toggle latch means for tripping the latter when the former has moved to a predetermined position to release said auxiliary rod operating arm to shift said auxiliary contact operating rod to switch open position.

2. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein closing abutment means on said main rod operating arm engage closing abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm in the switch closed position for holding the latter and said auxiliary operating rod in the switch closed position.

3. Switch means according to claim 2 wherein said closing abutment means on said main rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft, and said closing abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft and opposite to the direction in which said shoulders on said main rod operating arm face.

4. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein opening abutment means on said main rod operating arm engage opening abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm after said main rod operating arm has moved through a predetermined extent from the switch closed position for transferring kinetic energy from said main rod operating arm to said auxiliary rod operating arm.

5. Switch means according to claim 4 wherein said opening abutment means on said main rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft and said opening abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft and opposite to the direction in which said shoulders on said main rod operating arm face.

6. Switch means according to claim 5 wherein resilient means on one of said opening abutment means cushion the mechanical shock incident to engagement of said opening abutment means.

7. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein said main toggle latch means includes: a first link pivoted to said housing, a second link pivoted to said distal end of said main rod operating arm, and means pivotally interconnecting said links; and a trip latch is mounted on said means pivotally interconnecting said links and is positioned in the path of said mechanism cam to shift said links out of toggle latched position.

' 8. Switch means according to claim 7 wherein said mechanism cam has a plurality of teeth for operatively engaging said trip latch at different angular positions of said operating shaft.

9. Switch means according to claim 7 wherein said trip latch is characterized by being capable of pivoting said main rod operating arm and said interrupting rod operating arm to the switch open positions on continued pivotal movement of said mechanism cam and said operating shaft in said one direction in the event that said spring means are incapable of effecting such operations.

10. Switch means according to claim 7 wherein said auxiliary toggle latch means include: a first link pivoted to said housing, a second link pivoted to said distal end of said auxiliary rod operating arm, and means pivotally interconnecting the last named links; and said driving means between said main and auxiliary toggle latch means includes cooperating shoulders on said first links spaced apart when said toggle latch means are in switch closed positions and in driving engagement after trip.- ping of said main toggle latch means and pivoting of its first link to a predetermined position.

11. Switch means according to claim 2 wherein a recocking cam is pivoted on said operating shaft, link means interconnect said recocking cam and said main rod operating arm, and shoulder means on said mechanism cam engage shoulder means on said'recocking cam on further pivotal movement 1 of said operating shaft in said one direction to pivot said main rod operating arm and-thereby said auxiliary rod operating arm to switch closed positions.

12. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein means independent of said mechanism cam is arranged to cooperate with said main toggle latch means and operate sequentially said main and auxiliary contact operating rods to switch open positions.

13. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein said main toggle latch means includes: a first link pivoted at one end to said housing, and a second link pivoted at one end to said distal end of said main rod operating arm and at the other end to the other end of said first link; said second link has an arm extending from said one end thereof, an auxiliary trip shaft is pivoted on said mechanism housing, an actuating arm is secured to said auxiliary trip shaft, and a push rod is pivoted to the distal end of said actuating arm and its distal end is arranged to engage said arm on said second link for tripping said main toggle latch means.

14. Switch means according to claim 13 wherein means on said mechanism housing guide said push rod in its movement relative to said arm on said second link, and spring means bias said actuating arm to retract said push rod.

15. Switch means according to claim 14 wherein spring means react between said actuating arm and said push rod to bias the latter away from the former, and stop means on said actuating arm and on said push rod cooperate to limit the extent of such movement after a said actuating arm has been pivoted through a predetermined extent to shift said distal end of said push rod out of the path of said arm on said second link.

16. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein means cooperate with said main rod operating arm to indicate the position thereof and thereby whether said main and auxiliarycontact operating rods are in the open or closed positions.

17. Switch means according to claim 16 wherein said indicating means include: a stationary target outside said mechanism housing, an indicator lever pivoted on said mechanism housing, a sleeve connected to said indicator lever and movable thereby into and out of said housing and out of and into overlying relation to said target, an indicator spring means biasing said indicator lever to withdraw said sleeve into said housing whereby said target is visible and said contacts are open; and detent means on said main rod operating arm engage said indicator lever to shift the same and said sleeve to obscure said target and indicate the closed position of said main and auxiliary contact operating rods against the biasing action of said indicator spring means.

18. Switch means according to claim 17 wherein said indicator lever has a notch adjacent its pivot axis for receiving said detent means in the form of a pin characterized by being arranged and adapted to shift said indicator lever and thereby said sleeve to its withdrawn position in the event that said indicator spring means should be unable to accomplish such withdrawal on pivotal movement of said main rod operating arm to the open position of said contact operating rod.

19. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism housing includes a removable cover, and apertured support arms extend from said. cover into said mechanism housing and support said auxiliary shaft.

20. Switch means according to claim 19 wherein means on said cover cooperate with said main rod operating arm to indicate the position thereof and thereby whether said main means and auxiliary contact operating rods are in the open or closed positions. 

1. Switch means comprising: a circuit interrupter having main and auxiliary contact operating rods for sequentially opening main contacts and auxiliary contacts and for closing said contacts, a mechanism housing into which said operating rods extend, an operating shaft pivoted on said housing, an auxiliary shaft on said housing in parallel spaced relation to said operating shaft, a main rod operating arm pivoted on said auxiliary shaft and connected at its distal end to said main contact operating rod, an auxiliary rod operating arm pivoted on said auxiliary shaft and connected at its distal end to said auxiliary contact operating rod, spring means individual to and interconnecting said operating arms and said mechanism housing and biasing said arms and thereby said rods to switch open positions, main toggle latch means interposed between the distal end of said main rod operating arm and said mechanism housing for holding said main contact operating rod in switch cloSed position, auxiliary toggle latch means interposed between the distal end of said auxiliary rod operating arm and said mechanism housing for holding said auxiliary rod operating arm and thereby said auxiliary contact operating rod in switch closed position, a mechanism cam secured to said operating shaft for tripping said main toggle latch means to release said main rod operating arm to shift said main contact operating rod to switch open position on pivotal movement of said operating shaft in one direction, and driving means between said main toggle latch means and said auxiliary toggle latch means for tripping the latter when the former has moved to a predetermined position to release said auxiliary rod operating arm to shift said auxiliary contact operating rod to switch open position.
 2. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein closing abutment means on said main rod operating arm engage closing abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm in the switch closed position for holding the latter and said auxiliary operating rod in the switch closed position.
 3. Switch means according to claim 2 wherein said closing abutment means on said main rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft, and said closing abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft and opposite to the direction in which said shoulders on said main rod operating arm face.
 4. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein opening abutment means on said main rod operating arm engage opening abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm after said main rod operating arm has moved through a predetermined extent from the switch closed position for transferring kinetic energy from said main rod operating arm to said auxiliary rod operating arm.
 5. Switch means according to claim 4 wherein said opening abutment means on said main rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft and said opening abutment means on said auxiliary rod operating arm include diametrically positioned shoulders facing in the same circular direction on opposite sides of said auxiliary shaft and opposite to the direction in which said shoulders on said main rod operating arm face.
 6. Switch means according to claim 5 wherein resilient means on one of said opening abutment means cushion the mechanical shock incident to engagement of said opening abutment means.
 7. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein said main toggle latch means includes: a first link pivoted to said housing, a second link pivoted to said distal end of said main rod operating arm, and means pivotally interconnecting said links; and a trip latch is mounted on said means pivotally interconnecting said links and is positioned in the path of said mechanism cam to shift said links out of toggle latched position.
 8. Switch means according to claim 7 wherein said mechanism cam has a plurality of teeth for operatively engaging said trip latch at different angular positions of said operating shaft.
 9. Switch means according to claim 7 wherein said trip latch is characterized by being capable of pivoting said main rod operating arm and said interrupting rod operating arm to the switch open positions on continued pivotal movement of said mechanism cam and said operating shaft in said one direction in the event that said spring means are incapable of effecting such operations.
 10. Switch means according to claim 7 wherein said auxiliary toggle latch means include: a first link pivoted to said housing, a second link pivoted to said distal end of said auxiliary rod operating arm, and means pivotally interconnecting the last named links; and said driving means between said main and auxiliary toggle latch means includes cooperating shoulders on saId first links spaced apart when said toggle latch means are in switch closed positions and in driving engagement after tripping of said main toggle latch means and pivoting of its first link to a predetermined position.
 11. Switch means according to claim 2 wherein a recocking cam is pivoted on said operating shaft, link means interconnect said recocking cam and said main rod operating arm, and shoulder means on said mechanism cam engage shoulder means on said recocking cam on further pivotal movement of said operating shaft in said one direction to pivot said main rod operating arm and thereby said auxiliary rod operating arm to switch closed positions.
 12. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein means independent of said mechanism cam is arranged to cooperate with said main toggle latch means and operate sequentially said main and auxiliary contact operating rods to switch open positions.
 13. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein said main toggle latch means includes: a first link pivoted at one end to said housing, and a second link pivoted at one end to said distal end of said main rod operating arm and at the other end to the other end of said first link; said second link has an arm extending from said one end thereof, an auxiliary trip shaft is pivoted on said mechanism housing, an actuating arm is secured to said auxiliary trip shaft, and a push rod is pivoted to the distal end of said actuating arm and its distal end is arranged to engage said arm on said second link for tripping said main toggle latch means.
 14. Switch means according to claim 13 wherein means on said mechanism housing guide said push rod in its movement relative to said arm on said second link, and spring means bias said actuating arm to retract said push rod.
 15. Switch means according to claim 14 wherein spring means react between said actuating arm and said push rod to bias the latter away from the former, and stop means on said actuating arm and on said push rod cooperate to limit the extent of such movement after said actuating arm has been pivoted through a predetermined extent to shift said distal end of said push rod out of the path of said arm on said second link.
 16. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein means cooperate with said main rod operating arm to indicate the position thereof and thereby whether said main and auxiliary contact operating rods are in the open or closed positions.
 17. Switch means according to claim 16 wherein said indicating means include: a stationary target outside said mechanism housing, an indicator lever pivoted on said mechanism housing, a sleeve connected to said indicator lever and movable thereby into and out of said housing and out of and into overlying relation to said target, an indicator spring means biasing said indicator lever to withdraw said sleeve into said housing whereby said target is visible and said contacts are open; and detent means on said main rod operating arm engage said indicator lever to shift the same and said sleeve to obscure said target and indicate the closed position of said main and auxiliary contact operating rods against the biasing action of said indicator spring means.
 18. Switch means according to claim 17 wherein said indicator lever has a notch adjacent its pivot axis for receiving said detent means in the form of a pin characterized by being arranged and adapted to shift said indicator lever and thereby said sleeve to its withdrawn position in the event that said indicator spring means should be unable to accomplish such withdrawal on pivotal movement of said main rod operating arm to the open position of said contact operating rod.
 19. Switch means according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism housing includes a removable cover, and apertured support arms extend from said cover into said mechanism housing and support said auxiliary shaft.
 20. Switch means according to claim 19 wherein means on said cover cooperate with said main rod operating arm to indicate the position thereof aNd thereby whether said main means and auxiliary contact operating rods are in the open or closed positions. 